Turbine water-wheel



y(No Moden) F. R. ESTLOW.

TURBINE WATER WHEEL.

No. 355,391. PatentedfJan 2 sheets-sheet 1.

2 Sheets-Shed; 2.

(No Model.)

` E'. R. ESTLOW.

TURBINB WATER, WHEEL.

Panzented Jan. 4, 1887;

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YIINTTED STATES PATENT Tirion.

FRANCIS ROBNO ESTLOW, OF BARNEGAT, NEW JERSEY.

TURBINE WATER-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,391, dated January 4, 1887.

e 'Application filed September 18, 1SE6, Serial No. 213,920. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANoIs Ronno EsrLow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Barnegat, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Turbine Water-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in turbine water-wheels; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out `in the claims. Y

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a turbine water-wheel embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is partly a top plan view and partly a horizontal section taken on the line x :v of Fig. A1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan View.

A represents a case or pit for the water-wheel, which is provided with a horizontal platform, B, in the center of which is a circular opening, C, of suitable diameter. Transversely on the platform B, and on opposite sides ofthe opening C, are arranged beams D.

E represents a bridge-beam,-which is suspended below the platform by means of boltrods F, which extend through the ends of the bridge-beam and up through the platform and the beams D. On the upper threaded ends of the said bolt-,rods are screwed nuts F, which bear upon the upper sides of the beams D, and by means of which the bridge-beam maybe adjusted vertically, as will be very readily understood.

On the inner 'sides of the beams D are secured vertical end walls, G, of a casing, which is built over the circular opening C, and the Vsides and top of the said casing are formed by hinged gates H, each of which is angular in cross-section, as shown, and the said gates are adaptedto fit snugly against the inclined slides and the horizontal upper edges of the end walls, G.

I represents a vertical shaft, the lower end of which is stepped in a socket that is made in the center of the bridge-beam, and the upper portion of the said shaft is journaled in a timber or beam, K, that extends across the top of the pit or casing.

L represents the circular bottom of the turbine water-wheel, through the center of which the vertical shaft I extends, and the said circular bottom is rigidly attached to the vertical shaft at right angles thereto and is' adapted to rotate therewith. In the central portion of the circular bottom plate, L, on the upper side thereof, is made an annular recess, M, which is slightly convex in cross-section, thereby forming an annular iiange, N, which encircles the said recess. On said annular iiange are secured a series of vertical curved buckets, O,

which are arranged tangentially and extend entirely around the rim of the bottom plate. The diameter of the plate L is just equal to the diameter ofthe openingO, so that the waterwheel may be drawn upwardly with its shaft I through the said opening when it is necessary to repair the wheel.

Around the opening C is a countersunk annular groove, C', which is adapted to receive a circular scroll-plate, P, having a depending annular flange, R, which extends down through the opening C, and is supported slightly above the upper edges of the buckets of the waterwheel.` A largeV circular opening is made in the center of the scroll-plate, the diameter of the said opening being about equal to the diameter of the recess M in the bottom of the wheel.

S represents a circular shield, which is slightly convex in cross-section, and is provided with a central opening, T. The diameter of the shield is such as to adapt it to fit snugly inthe annular recess M on the upper side of the bottom plate, L, and the vertical shaft I extends throughthe opening T in the said shield.

U represents a pair of cross-bars, which extend above the opening C and over the annular scroll-plate, and from the said bars depend boltrods V, to the lowerends of which the shield S is attached. The upper'ends of the rods V are screw-threaded and pass through openings which are made in the bars U, andon the said threaded ends of the bolts are screwed nuts W", the function of which is to raise or lower the rods V, so as to adj ust the shield S lon the bottom plate of the water-wheel. This shield -is adjusted so as to be just out of contact with lCO I will be no friction between the said shield and the water-wheel.

X represents drums or winches, which are journaled above the case or pit A, and are connected to the gates H by means of chains Y.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the gates H are closed over the end boards, G, of the case and against the vertical shaft I, the supply of water is cut off from the water-wheel, and consequently the latter is stationary. In order to operate the wheel, the gates H are opened by turning the drums or Winches, and the water passes down thnough the opening C upon the shield S and bears also upon the scroll-plate P. It will be readily understood that the water-wheel is entirely relieved from the superincumbent weight of the water, and consequently but little friction is generated. The water in seeking to escape passes outwardly between the tangential buckets and acts upon the curved sides of the same in such a manner as to rotate the wheel at a high rate of speed and with great power. Owing to the convex shape of the recess M-in the bottom of the waterwheel and of the shield S, which covers the said recess, the water is deflected outwardly toward the tangential buckets, and is prevented from accumulating at the center of the wheel.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination of the case or pit having the platform provided with the annular opening C, the gates to close over the said opening, and the beam E, suspended below the same, with the turbine wheel below the said opening and having its axis stepped in the beam E, the said wheel'having the peripheral buckets open on their upper sides, and the annular scroll secured in the opening (l and arranged over the buckets and out of contact therewith, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the case or pit having the platform provided with the annular opening C, the gates to close over the said opening, the beam E, andthe adj usting-bolts F, to suspend the same below the platform, the turbine wheel below the opening in the platform and having it axis stepped in the beam E, the said wheel having the peripheral buckets open on their upper sides, the annular scroll secured in the opening C and arranged over the buckets and out of contact therewith, and the shield suspended above the bottom of the wheel and out of contact therewith, the said shield being vertically adjustable, substantially as described.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS ROBNO ESTLOW.

Witnesses:

GEORGE T. GRANMER, HENRY C. GULICK. 

